Last month, 10 Leadership Walton students ventured to Dillard's corporate offices in Little Rock, meeting with several Dillard's executives, including senior vice president Bill Dillard III.

The meetings aimed to learn more about the challenges and future of the retail industry. Students listened to presentations covering insight into Dillard's in-store customer experience, leadership development program and potential career paths.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A has a long history of partnership with Dillard's, and many Walton College graduates have gone on to work for the department store chain.

"We are so appreciative of the Dillard's team for opening their doors to Leadership Walton students. Their hospitality and insight into various career paths have been invaluable to our students, truly helping shape the future leaders of tomorrow," said Lindsey Steiger-Muck, senior director for career services at Walton College.

Leadership Walton is a program that provides professional development opportunities for Walton College undergraduate students. By learning the necessary skills and mindset for success in the ever-changing business world, students can bridge the gap between academic learning and career preparation. Undergrads are provided with valuable resources such as dining etiquette classes, public speaking workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is AACSB-accredited and ranks among the top business schools in the nation. The Walton College is the largest college at the University of Arkansas, serving nearly 9,000 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. The Walton College is recognized among U.S. News & World Report's 2023 "Best Business Schools," and its undergraduate supply chain management program was ranked No. 1 in North America by Gartner. The college's Master of Business Administration program was also ranked No. 11 for best return on investment by The Wall Street Journal. The Princeton Review ranked the college's graduate entrepreneurship program as one of the top in the country for the first time in the 2022-23 year. And in partnership with the Global Campus, the U of A's online business degree program ranked No. 12 nationally among 214 institutions by U.S. News in 2023.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.

-30-